To be eligible for consideration, a player must have earned a 3.00 grade-point average for the previous semester and maintained a 3.00 cumulative average during his academic career. Duke led all ACC schools with 11 selections, followed by Clemson with seven and Virginia Tech and Boston College with four each.

Bowden was one of only three players to make the academic team and to be named first-team all-conference. Bowden was, at times, an unsung hero for Virginia Tech during the 2009 season. He helped the Hokies win the field possession battle, averaging 43.8 yards per punt to lead the ACC.